Monthly Archives: June 2015

I’m happy to report that the “Banned Expression in Tibet” event at Kings Place on 20 June 2015 went very well! Thank you to everyone who came along and made it a memorable night!

We had such a great team of performers and crew so that on the actual day, it wasn’t stressful at all but really fun and everyone played their part beautifully.

I just wanted to post some of the amazing photos of the event which were taken by our good friend Luke Ward at Kings Place. If anyone re-posts the photos from here, please be sure to credit him as the photographer and mention that the photos were taken at Kings Place, thanks.

The Programme Sheet for the night

“Banned Expression in Tibet” opened with a choreography based on Sherten’s song “The Sound of Unity”.

Kunsang Kelden, co-founder of Lhakar Diaries and Dechen Pemba, editor of High Peaks Pure Earth open the evening.

Kunsang Kelden talks about the new generation of Tibetan musicians and rappers

Ngawang Lodup sings a moving song about missing his homeland

Ngawang Lodup sings a moving song about missing his homeland

Palden sings a song in praise of the Tenth Panchen Lama

Sonam reads a poem by Theurang called “Today, I wish to offer three prostrations towards Lhasa”, translated by Bhuchung D. Sonam.

Dechen Pemba, editor of High Peaks Pure Earth introduces the work of Tibetan writer, poet and blogger Tsering Woeser

Youdon Aukatsang and Dechen Pemba talk about the work of Tibetan writer Woeser

Special Guest, Tibetan Parliamentarian Youdon Aukatsang reads a poem by Tsering Woeser called “Scream”. The poem was translated by A.E Clark and is available in the poetry volume “Tibet’s True Heart”

Ugyen Choephell sings his own compositions in modern style.

Ugyen Choephell reads his poem “I Am What I Am”, about Tibetan identity

Ngawang Lodup sings the popular Tibetan song “Aku Pema” using an electro-mandolin

For everyone who came and enjoyed the visuals we used as background on the night, here they are below. Many thanks to our talented graphic designer who offered her services and did all the artwork for Banned Expression, often to tight deadlines!

I’m also glad that Tibetan media picked up on the event, here are two radio reports online:

Finally I’d like to thank everyone who gave their time and effort to making “Banned Expression” a success. It’s going to be a long blog post but I wanted to take the time here to thank everyone who contributed and also make their contribution known!

Thank you to FreeMuse for supporting Tibetan musicians and for sending a wonderful message of solidarity to us. Several Tibet-related groups helped with spreading the word, so thank you to Students for a Free Tibet and Tibet Society. A special mention must go to Tibet Society and Tibet Relief Fund for bringing their whole crew to the event and especially to Philippa and Riki for supporting the work of High Peaks Pure Earth.

Ugyen Choephell thrilled us all with his rock and roll heart and passionate words. Ugyen is always there to lend his support for Tibet, no matter how big or small the event, thank you for coming all the way from Bristol for us! Visit Ugyen’s website here: http://www.tibetalivingtradition.co.uk/about.htm

Thank you to Palden, someone who is somehow able just to turn up on the day and effortlessly pull off two songs amazingly!

Thank you to Sonam who conquered her nerves and reached new heights! Thank you to Bhuchung D. Sonam for letting us premiere his translation of “Today, I wish to offer three prostrations towards Lhasa” by Tashi Rabten at the event. Sonam read it well and the full power of his words could be felt in the room.

And thank you to Youdon Aukatsang who managed to fit Banned Expression into her already packed programme and effortlessly graced the stage like a true pro! A thank you must also go to A.E Clark at Ragged Banner whose translations of Woeser la’s work are so beautiful, the two poems that Youdon la read, A Vow and Scream are both to be found in Tibet’s True Heart, a highly recommended book.

And where would we be without our amazing crew members? Eli, thank you not only for your genius make-up and beauty skills but also for your support over the years for everything that we do. Eli was with us on Banned Expression from the start and looks after us all! From the Green Room to the Dressing Room to the way home, Eli had it all covered so that we were hydrated and had plenty to snack on, she thought of everything, even bringing flowers and scented candles to calm our nerves.

Shu-Ting, thank you for your AV assistance and sorry you got stuck in the booth all night! Thank you JD & ND for lending a hand whenever we needed it and thank you to Luke Ward for his photos.

Several businesses in London promoted Banned Expression by giving out our leaflets and having our posters up, including the Tibetan owned businesses Vintage Basement just off Brick Lane and in Camden and Kailash Momo Restaurant in the Tibetan hub of Woolwich. The lovely Nepalese couple at Rising Green Coffee Shop were similarly helpful, anyone in the Old Street area should check out their delicious momos every Wednesday!

The Kings Place crew were a God-send and made us look professional, thank you Andrew, Delfina, Michael, Alex, Matt and all the Front of House staff.

As this post shows, it takes a lot of people, planning, patience and support to put on a 90 minute show! I hope that events like this will continue to be supported so that the incredible creative resistance taking place in Tibet today can be honoured and given a fitting space.

“Banned Expression in Tibet” Event in London to Highlight Tibet’s Creative Resistance

Exile Tibetans based in the UK will amplify the voices behind Tibet’s creative resistance at an event on 20 June called “Banned Expression in Tibet” which will be held at Kings Place.

The event will focus on the Tibetan singers, poets and writers who express themselves creatively at great personal risk. Through a programme of live musical performances, poetry readings and short talks, Tibet’s vibrant and defiant creative spirit will come to life.

“Banned Expression in Tibet” will be hosted by UK-born Dechen Pemba, editor of the translations website High Peaks Pure Earth, and-US born Kunsang Kelden, co-founder of the Tibetan youth blog Lhakar Diaries.

“For the past few years, Tibetan artists inside Tibet have been producing incredibly bold expressions of creative defiance in the form of songs, poetry and writings. It is our intention to amplify these expressions that come at a heavy price in Tibet. We are fortunate here in the UK to have talented Tibetan musicians and performers to support our fellow Tibetans and showcase their work”, said Dechen Pemba.

Ugyen Choephell, a Tibetan artist, poet and musician, said: “We Tibetans will never give up our Tibetan identity. This is the most powerful tool we can have and wherever we are, no one can take that away from us. That’s why I’m happy to perform at “Banned Expression in Tibet”, to express my identity proudly and to honour the artistry in Tibet today.”

Artists and performers will include Dechen Pemba, Kunsang Kelden, Ugyen Choephell and Youdon Aukatsang. The “Banned Expression” campaign is a joint project of High Peaks Pure Earth, Voice of Tibet and Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.

“As Tibetan artists continue to be censored, repressed and imprisoned, it is important to create platforms for Tibetan artistic expressions round the world.”

The Banned Expression story actually goes back a bit further than that though, when a small group of us took part in a conference that was one of the most inspiring I’ve ever attended. It was held in October 2012 in Oslo’s Opera House and it was called “ALL THAT IS BANNED IS DESIRED – World Conference on Artistic Freedom of Expression”, it was organised by Fritt Ord Foundation and Freemuse. The conference promised a lot:

Artists from all genres: music, literature, film, performance, theatre, painting, photography, etc., will perform, examine and discuss where, how and to what extent constraints are placed on artistic freedom of expression, not to mention examples of the potential of art to challenge established truths and framework conditions.

Tibet was represented by visual artist, USA based Tenzing Rigdol and France based musician Tenzin Gonpo in a session moderated by British journalist Frances Harrison. Their session can be seen on YouTube and is highly recommended viewing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1_0Su_0Eio

So… all that brings me to London and Banned Expression as I’m finally putting on an event here on 20 June 2015 at the stunning venue Kings Place. It’s going to be a great night as our team have managed to put together a varied programme that will include live music, spoken word and short talks. The evening will also showcase the best in UK-based Tibetan talent such as Bristol-based Ugyen Choephell who is an artist, musician and poet.

Myself and Kunsang Kelden, co-founder of one of the best exile youth blogs Lhakar Diaries, will be the hosts for the evening and we’ll introduce performers and guests who will perform songs from Tibet and read poetry, both in Tibetan and in translation. Among the stifled Tibetan voices that we will highlight are those of prominent Tibetan writer and poet Woeser, imprisoned singer Lolo, writer and poet Tashi Rabten and Shokjang, writer and currently detained.

I do hope that many of you will join us next weekend in London. Any proceeds from the night will go to the performers to support their creative work for Tibet.

Finally, I’m going to end with a powerful message of support for Banned Expression from FreeMuse and I’d like to thank everyone at FreeMuse for their solidarity with Tibetan artists. See you on 20 June at Kings Place!